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Lofty dreams for Aberdeen

Stylish living is not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of the city, but that may be about to change as property developers race to snap up quirky old buildings and convert them into stylish, state-of-the-art dwellings, says Alastair Robertson

For 30 years Aberdeen desperately attempted to reinvent itself by monotonously winning the Britain in Bloom competition. But not even a million roses could disguise the fact that Aberdeen consisted largely of very grey granite, 1960s pebble-dash council housing and high-rise concrete.

While other cities began to revitalise their city centres, Aberdeen continued to spread its oil-fuelled wealth into the rural hinterland.

But if Aberdeen has lagged behind in residential development of its city centre all the indications are that it is about to catch up dramatically, and potentially with unexpected style.

Aberdeen may never, as one over-enthusiastic lord provost suggested, become the Costydelsol o'Scotland, but it has a fair chance of putting down a significant marker for stylish provincial redevelopment.

A stunning Grade-A listed textile mill within walking distance of the centre is expected to come on the market in the near future. Two former hospitals, again in the